Maharashtra Govt Launches ‘Vitthal Rakhumai Warkari Yojana 2026’; Pilgrims To Get Financial Aid For Accidents During Ashadhi Wari
Maharashtra Govt Launches ‘Vitthal Rakhumai Warkari Yojana 2026’; Pilgrims To Get Financial Aid For Accidents During Ashadhi Wari
Mumbai, July 14, 2026: The Maharashtra government has announced the Vitthal Rakhumai Warkari Yojana 2026, a welfare scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to Warkaris participating in the annual Ashadhi Wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur.
The scheme has been introduced to offer social and financial security to the lakhs of devotees undertaking the pilgrimage. It will remain in force from July 7 to July 25, 2026, covering the entire duration of this year’s Ashadhi Wari.
Under the scheme, financial assistance will be provided to Warkaris or their families in the event of accidents during the pilgrimage.
The benefits include:
- ₹4 lakh to the legal heir in case of the accidental death of a Warkari during the Wari.
- ₹2.5 lakh for pilgrims who suffer more than 60% permanent disability due to an accident.
- ₹74,000 for those who sustain up to 60% disability during the pilgrimage.
- ₹16,000 towards medical expenses for pilgrims hospitalised for more than one week.
- ₹5,400 towards treatment costs for those admitted to hospital for less than one week.
The state government said the initiative is intended to provide a financial safety net to devotees and their families in the event of unforeseen accidents during one of Maharashtra’s largest religious gatherings.
Every year, lakhs of Warkaris from across the state participate in the Ashadhi Wari, walking hundreds of kilometres to the Vitthal-Rukmini Temple in Pandharpur to mark Ashadhi Ekadashi. The newly announced scheme seeks to ensure that pilgrims receive timely financial assistance in case of accidents or medical emergencies during the pilgrimage.
